Clynelish SMWS 26.45 'Sweets and Peats'

from a purchased sample (22 Year Old 1983/2005)

Nose: Nearly inscrutable at first nosing. All the aromas are bound up rather tightly. Honey, wax, salt, and sweet green peppers with sugar snap peas. This could have been called 'Sweets and Peas.' Salt, mineral/stone, and more coastal characteristics. Antiseptic. Salty vanilla in the back row. All rather excellent so far. Vanilla wafts up more with time as well. Let's see what water does for this. (with water) Really does the trick. More sweet barley. Everything becomes sharper. Something of green apples and grapefruit, too.

Palate: Refined on entry, and then throws a right hook on the midpalate. More simple and direct than the nose. Sweet barley and honey, more of the same green vegetables, some ash, wax, salt, and pebbles. Typical stuff. Maybe some ginger and lime, but I'm just guessing. (with water) Much more linear here, too, with wax, salt, honey, malt, and sweet barley. Light ash and peat.

Finish: Very nice. Ginger, green pepper, wax, malty honey. Other than the vegetables, very classic Clynelish. Generally, I'm not a fan of those specific vegetables in my whisky, but they're delicious here. Swims very well for the nose, but doesn't do much for the palate. I thought that this was very good.

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